Groundbreaking new releases: Everything you need to know about what Apple announced at WWDC23

Anyone who is even just the slightest bit of an Apple enthusiast, was on the edge of their chair today just waiting to hear what the new releases at WWDC ’23 event… and wow did Apple deliver. It wasn’t only a few upgrades, and a few OS drops… it was some rather ground breaking new developments and releases. From the release of an all new product category of a futuristic cutting edge Spacial technology device, to an array of amazing new OS releases across everything from watchOS to MacOS, iOS, the all new visionOS and more.

Here’s what you need to know about everything release at Apple’s WWDC 2023 event:

Let’s start off with the product releases…

The world’s thinnest laptop: 15-in MacBook Air

Boasting an expansive 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the remarkable performance of M2, an impressive battery life of up to 18 hours, and a quiet, fanless design, the new MacBook Air combines power and portability in the slimmest 15-inch laptop on the market. It features an innovative 6-speaker sound system for an immersive Spatial Audio experience, a high-definition 1080p FaceTime camera, convenient MagSafe charging, and the user-friendly macOS Ventura, ensuring an unparalleled user experience. Starting today, customers can place their orders, and the MacBook Air will be available from Tuesday, June 13. Additionally, the 13-inch MacBook Air equipped with M2 now offers a reduced starting price of $1,449 (CAD), providing enhanced value and options for both existing and new Mac users.

The two most powerful Macs ever made: Mac Studio and Mac Pro

Mac Studio, incorporates the impressive M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra chips, offering a substantial performance boost and improved connectivity within its remarkably compact design. Mac Studio surpasses the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac by up to 6x in terms of speed, and it is up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Mac Studio with M1 Ultra. Furthermore, the Mac Pro, now equipped with the M2 Ultra chip, combines the unparalleled performance of Apple’s most potent chip with the versatility of PCIe expansion. Compared to the previous-generation Intel-based model, the Mac Pro achieves up to 3x faster speeds. With a maximum unified memory capacity of 192GB, both the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra and the Mac Pro outperform even the most advanced workstation graphics cards, making them capable of handling demanding workloads that other systems struggle with. This latest release marks the complete transition of Mac devices to Apple silicon, providing users with the most powerful and capable lineup of professional products that Apple has ever offered.

Mac Studio

The Mac Studio revolutionizes the creative workspace by offering professionals the opportunity to create their ideal studio setup, thanks to its groundbreaking performance and extensive connectivity options, all packed into a compact form factor that sits perfectly on their desks. With the inclusion of M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, the new Mac Studio delivers a significant performance boost compared to the previous generation, making it a substantial upgrade for users transitioning from older Mac models. Mac Studio with M2 Max achieves up to 50 percent faster speeds than its predecessor and an impressive 4x improvement compared to the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac. It boasts a 12-core CPU, up to a 38-core GPU, and offers up to 96GB of unified memory with a memory bandwidth of 400GB/s.

Mac Pro

The Mac Pro sets a new standard in performance by harnessing the groundbreaking capabilities of the M2 Ultra chip, combined with the flexibility of PCIe expansion, to elevate the most demanding workflows to extraordinary heights. Unlike the Intel-based Mac Pro, which initially offered an 8-core CPU with options for customization, every Mac Pro now comes equipped with Apple’s most potent 24-core CPU and can be further configured with a staggering 76-core GPU. Additionally, the new Mac Pro boasts double the memory and SSD storage capacity as the previous model, and it can be customized with an astonishing 192GB of memory, providing a unified memory bandwidth of 800GB/s. This impressive memory capacity surpasses even the most advanced workstation graphics cards available. Furthermore, each Mac Pro is now equipped with the performance equivalent of seven Afterburner cards, offering unparalleled capabilities. It also features the same cutting-edge media engine found in the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra, enabling both devices to handle an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video playback simultaneously.

Mac Studio and Mac Pro are now available for order, and they will be accessible starting from Tuesday, June 13.

The all new Apple Vision Pro

The groundbreaking Apple Vision Pro, is a spatial computer that seamlessly combines digital content with the physical world, all while keeping users engaged and connected with others. This innovative device introduces an expansive canvas for apps that extends beyond the confines of a traditional screen and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled through natural and intuitive inputs such as eyes, hands, and voice. Powered by visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro enables users to interact with digital content as if it were physically present in their environment. The exceptional design of Vision Pro includes an ultra-high-resolution display system with an impressive 23 million pixels spread across two screens, as well as custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip configuration, guaranteeing an immersive experience that feels as though it is happening right in front of the user’s eyes in real time.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing.”

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO

“Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing,” says Cook. “Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”

Revolutionizing the realm of personal computing by introducing a new dimension to user interaction. With this cutting-edge device, the Apple Vision Pro, users can engage with their favourite apps in a whole new way, capture and revisit cherished memories, immerse themselves in captivating TV shows and movies, and connect with others through the enhanced FaceTime experience. Apple Vision Pro opens up a world of possibilities, redefining the boundaries of personal computing and delivering a truly transformative user experience.

New OS announcements across the board

macOS Sonoma

Coming this fall, macOS Sonoma introduces a range of powerful features and productivity tools that revolutionize the way tasks are accomplished on Mac. With dynamic video conferencing features, such as Presenter Overlay, users can enhance their presence during video calls by appearing atop the content they’re sharing, elevating their work showcase. Aimed at facilitating hybrid in-studio and remote professional workflows, macOS Sonoma introduces a high-performance mode to the Screen Sharing app. Leveraging the advanced media engine in Apple silicon, this mode delivers highly responsive remote access, including low-latency audio, high frame rates, and support for reference color. Users can now place widgets directly on their desktops and interact with them effortlessly with a single click. Thanks to Continuity, iPhone widgets can be used simultaneously while working on the Mac, streamlining multitasking. Additionally, Safari receives significant updates, taking web productivity to the next level with the introduction of profiles, which keep browsing sessions separate for different topics or projects. Furthermore, web apps on Mac provide quicker access to favourite sites, enhancing browsing efficiency.

iOS 17

A significant update that enhances communication features across Phone, FaceTime, and Messages. It simplifies sharing with AirDrop and introduces smarter input options to enhance typing speed and accuracy. iOS 17 also introduces two new experiences: Journal, an app that facilitates gratitude practices, and StandBy, which offers convenient glanceable information when iPhone is placed on a charging dock.

“With iOS 17, we’ve made iPhone more personal and intuitive by deeply considering the features we all rely on every day…”

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering

The Phone app receives personalized Contact Posters, allowing users to customize their appearance for incoming calls with various visual treatments. Live Voicemail provides real-time transcription and the ability to pick up calls while a voicemail is being left. FaceTime now supports audio and video messages, along with reactions for more expressive calls. Safari offers enhanced privacy protection for Private Browsing, while password sharing becomes easier and more secure. The Health app introduces new mental health features, and Maps adds offline maps and trail discovery. AirTag can now be shared with others, and Apple Music introduces collaborative playlists. AirPods, Home app, Reminders, Photos, Siri, and privacy updates also bring notable improvements. Last but certainly not least, the accessibility updates include Assistive Access, Live Speech, Personal Voice, and Point and Speak.

Learn more about all the updates over at Apple.ca.

iPad OS 17

iPadOS 17 introduces exciting features that allow users to customize the Lock Screen and interact with widgets in fresh ways. AutoFill makes working with PDFs more convenient by automatically identifying and filling in fields in forms, while Notes provides an enhanced experience for annotating and collaborating on PDFs. Messages receives significant updates, including a revamped stickers experience, and users can now leave video and audio messages on FaceTime. The Health app makes its way to iPad, complete with interactive charts, and HealthKit enables developers to create innovative experiences specifically designed for the iPad’s display. iPadOS 17 is currently available as a developer beta and will be released as a free software update in the fall.

Bringing new levels of personalization and versatility to iPad. Read all about it here at Apple.ca.

tvOS 17

FaceTime calls from the Big Screen are now a possibility with tvOS 17, and new Karaoke functionalities too, thanks to Apple Music Sing!

Starting this fall, Apple TV 4K users will have access to the new FaceTime app. This means they can initiate calls directly from Apple TV or seamlessly transfer calls from their iPhone or iPad. By utilizing Continuity Camera support, Apple TV can wirelessly connect to the user’s iPhone or iPad, utilizing their camera and microphone to bring participants together on the TV screen.

A notable feature called Center Stage ensures that everyone in the room stays perfectly framed on the screen, even as they move around. This intelligent technology adjusts the camera view to keep participants in focus. Additionally, users can now use gesture-based reactions during FaceTime calls. By using their hands, they can generate onscreen effects like hearts or fireworks, adding an extra touch of fun to the conversation.

With the introduction of Split View on Apple TV, users can enjoy watching shows or movies with their loved ones during a SharePlay session while still being able to see everyone on the FaceTime call. This allows for a more interactive and shared experience.

For added convenience, users have the ability to transfer a FaceTime call back to their iPhone or iPad using the device controls. And if another FaceTime or phone call comes in during a session, a notification appears on the TV without revealing the caller’s identity, ensuring privacy on a communal device.

Later on, popular video conferencing apps like Webex by Cisco and Zoom will become available on tvOS, bringing their communication capabilities to Apple TV 4K. This expansion opens up new possibilities for virtual meetings and collaborations from the comfort of the living room. Developers will also be able to integrate Continuity Camera APIs into their tvOS apps, allowing them to utilize the camera and microphone from iPhones or iPads. This integration will enable developers to create innovative and immersive entertainment experiences specifically designed for the living room environment.

Lastly, Apple Music Sing, a feature that allows users to sing along to their favorite tracks, will also incorporate Continuity Camera. This means that users can see themselves onscreen and add entertaining filters while enjoying their music. This enhances the overall interactive and engaging experience for Apple Music users.

These updates and integrations will be available to Apple TV 4K users in the near future, providing them with more exciting and interactive ways to connect and enjoy their entertainment.

New Apple Health insights coming to iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10

Apple introduced new health capabilities in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, addressing two significant areas and delivering innovative tools and experiences across multiple platforms. The updates include mental health features that enable users to log their daily moods and momentary emotions, gain valuable insights, and easily access assessments and resources. Additionally, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch now offer vision health features that promote healthy habits to reduce the risk of myopia. Moreover, the Health app is now available on iPad, providing users with new ways to view and manage their health data. All of these new and existing health features are based on scientific principles and prioritized privacy protection.

“Our goal is to empower people to take charge of their own health journey. With these innovative new features, we’re expanding the comprehensive range of health and wellness tools that we offer our users across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch…”

Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health

AirPods lineup gains new and improved features

In the upcoming software updates this fall, AirPods will receive a range of impressive new capabilities that will revolutionize the personal audio experience. With the introduction of Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will become even more user-friendly and adaptable across various environments and interactions. Additionally, the entire AirPods lineup will benefit from enhanced features, ensuring smoother call experiences and more seamless Automatic Switching. These updates promise to elevate the AirPods experience to new heights, delivering an unparalleled audio journey–all at no added cost.

We can’t wait to get our hands on all the new OSs in beta (and can’t wait to hear what you think of them too) and new devices too. Once you do, let us know what you think, our DMs are always open, or @ me over on Twitter @mrstevenbranco.